The scorching days of summer are winding down, and runners are appearing on the roads again during daytime hours.

Those same runners have been here all summer — they were just avoiding the heat by doing their workouts during cooler early morning or after dark hours.

Other runners retreated indoors to the cooler-but-boring world of treadmills and big fans.

A few die-hards have been spotted pounding the pavement in the afternoon on 100-105 degree days, but they've been few and far between.

Some resourceful groups have been doing nighttime trail runs to avoid the heat-radiating pavement and hot sun.

The prospect of tripping over rocks in the dark and sharing trails with nocturnal crawly creatures has been more appealing than risking heat stroke.

With cooler weather on the horizon, the running event calendar is starting to fill up again with at least ten events scheduled between now and the end of the year with additional races still to be added.

Here's a look ahead at some of what's on the local schedule for runners coming out of summer hibernation who need to get their competitive-event endorphin fix.

Today: The 23rd Annual Bulldog Run will take place in Spring Creek Park. This Marine Corps event will include both 5K and 10K distances. This race is a San Angelo classic, and it's the only time of the year when you can safely challenge Marine personnel to a test of fitness.

Sept. 8: Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Angelo and the Road Lizards running club will host this year's Run to Remember on the Angelo State University campus. The event will be a fun 5K race and 1.5 mile fitness walk that takes you on a complete tour of the ASU campus. Look for some fun "surprise" sections during this 5K race.

Sept. 22: The Habitat for Humanity 5K and 1-mile run will follow a scenic River Road course that starts and finishes at Kid's Kingdom. This will be a fun event for a good cause.

Sept. 29: Join the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of the Concho Valley (ADACCV) for the 8th Annual Let It Go Rally and Run. Event distances will include a 5K race and a 1-mile walk/run, both starting and finishing at El Paseo on South Oaks.

Oct. 6: The annual Pink Ribbon Run organized by Shannon Medical Center is the largest running event of the year in San Angelo with over 800 participants. All funds raised go to support breast cancer awareness, education and prevention. This year's event will include a 10K and 5K runs and a 1-mile walk/run.

Oct. 13: The American Heart Association will hold the Heart Walk 5K at Angelo State University, using a new course that traverses through the east half of the ASU campus starting and finishing at the Pavilion on Dena Drive. All proceeds benefit the 2012 Heart Walk.

Nov. 17: The annual Running of the Turkeys 5K, fitness walk and kid's run will take place on the Angelo State University campus, starting and finishing on the mall in front of the University Center. Join the ASUFit program and the ASU Sports Medicine Club for this annual pre-Thanksgiving community celebration of fitness. This year's event will feature 10-year age group categories and the traditional pumpkin pie awards.

Dec. 1: Angelo State's ROTC Detachment 847 will host the Run for Wounded Warriors 5K on the ASU campus. Funds raised will benefit the Wounded Warrior project. All ROTC detachments nationwide will be holding similar events during the coming year. The ROTC event will start/finish at the ASU Super Slab on the west side of the campus.

In addition to the events described above, more races to include the Run Run Rudolf under the Christmas lights and the Resolution Run half-marathon will take place before the end of the year.

You also want to start thinking about the winter trail running season that typically kicks off in January and runs through March. Events will include the Trail Running Series (10K, 12K, and 15K) plus the capstone Crazy Desert Trail 50K, marathon, and half-marathon scheduled for March 9 in 2013.

Ride On, San Angelo, and remember — summer is winding down and the running season is ramping up!

Bill Cullins is an old cyclist, slow runner, and former state Masters cyclocross champion. His column appears every Saturday. Contact him at bcullins@suddenlink.net.